newbie

American  

[noo-bee, nyoo‑] / ˈnu bi, ˈnyu‑ /

noun

Informal.

1. a person who is new to a field, activity, etc.; a novice or newcomer.

   January always brings newbies to our gym.

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newbie British  

/ ˈnjuːbɪ /

noun

1. slang a newcomer, esp in computing or on the internet

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Etymology

Origin of newbie

An Americanism first recorded in 1965–70; perhaps newb(orn) + -ie

Explanation

Newbie is a nickname for someone who is new to something. The new guy on a team or job is a newbie. Someone who just started using the internet is a newbie. Newbies are just starting out. This word — which has new right in it — is a slangy term for someone just starting an activity. A person on their first day at a job is a newbie. A first-time soccer player is a newbie. Freshmen are newbies. The opposite of a newbie is a veteran. Because newbies are inexperienced, they have a lot to learn. Newbies are also called rookies.

Example Sentences

In 2022, the political newbie won Kathmandu's mayoral race by a landslide as an independent candidate, triumphing over parties which had dominated elections for decades.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The newbie nominee won the trophy out of the gate for his portrayal of twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s juke joint-and-vampires movie “Sinners.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Robinhood says the card is designed to appeal to customers who already use its investing platform, which was launched in 2013 and targets younger, newbie investors.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

Lunching with some of the hotshots—being a newbie I was by no means a fully-fledged member—I was fascinated, indeed, almost overwhelmed, by the story du jour: American Raceways.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

First, I would choose one of the kids in my official fan club, someone with no money and a first-level newbie avatar, and give her every item I owned.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• beginner
• novice
• rookie